6

I'm intetested in knowing where the idea of the 5 trees in Svarga or Devaloka (Pancavriksha, Kalpavriksha) is described in the Hindu scriptues. I'm especially interested in the earliest occurences mentioning 5 trees. Thank you for your help in advance.

Improve this question
4
  • you mean these trees ?
    – Lakhi
    Aug 14, 2020 at 16:41
  • Those are the trees. The sources that I've read say that there are five sacred trees planted in Indra's garden in Svarga. I can find information on them, but not any sources for the scriptures that mention them. I know that the Pārijāt tree emerged from the churning of the sea in the Mahabharata and was planted in Indra's garden in Svarga. But the tradition of the five trees eludes me. I'm assuming it is in the Puranas or possibly the Ramayana (?).
    – DarkWolf
    Aug 15, 2020 at 1:25
  • Monier-Williams in his dictionary cites his own work as the source.
    – Say No To Censorship
    Aug 15, 2020 at 22:31
  • Moniers-Williams seems to be a pretty reliable source, so he must've had a source. It's odd that its so hard to find a scriptural reference for something so widely cited.
    – DarkWolf
    Aug 16, 2020 at 13:46

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

The Devi Bhagavatam, in the verses given below, mentions the names of the five celestial trees namely -- Mandara, Parijata, Santana, Kalpa and Harichandana.


41-44. Indra said :-- “O Devî! True that I have no other powerful enemy, yet I do not find peace nor any happiness. I fear for the sin Brâhmahattyâ in my house. O Devî! This Nandana Garden, the city of Kuvera, the lord of riches, this nectar forest, the sweet music of the Gandbarbas, the beautiful dance of the Apsarâs, all these now do not give the least pleasure to me. What more can I say than this that the beautiful Lady like you, most beautiful amidst the three worlds, and other beautiful ladies, the Heavenly cow, the Mandâra tree (one of the five trees of the celestial region), the Pârijâta tree (the flower tree), the Santâna tree, the Kalpa tree (yielding all desires) and the Harichandan (saffron tree) and others cannot give pleasure to me. What to do, where to go, so that I get happiness, O Beloved! This thought makes me uneasy. And so I am not able to get happiness in my own thought.”

Book 6, Chapter 7

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    Fantastic! Do you know if this is the earliest reference?
    – DarkWolf
    Aug 17, 2020 at 18:35
  • No I don't know that @DarkWolf
    – Rickross
    Aug 18, 2020 at 5:10

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .